100,000 Strong

The 100,000 Strong campaign is the US-China Strong Foundation’s original and signature campaign to dramatically increase and diversify study abroad to China as a means to strengthen the US-China relationship. In 2014, the initial goal of seeing 100,000 students study abroad in China was surpassed. The Foundation continues to build upon its success, working with partners across the country to raise awareness of the importance of study abroad, increase the diversity of students participating in programs and, working with corporate sponsors, to increase the number of scholarships for underserved students.

Among the principle objectives of 100,000 Strong:

To generate demand, promote diversity and encourage financial support for study abroad programs in China.

To work closely with Washington and Beijing to strengthen high-level government support for study abroad in China.

To serve as a Washington, DC-based hub for US educational institutions to share best practices, leverage resources and expand China programs.

To conduct independent studies to survey the impact of study abroad in China on US competitiveness and US-China relations.

100,000 Strong was first launched by President Obama in 2009 as a US State Department initiative. In 2013, then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the establishment of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, an independent nonprofit dedicated to deepening ties between the future leaders of the United States and China.

Building off the success and goals of the 100,000 Strong Foundation, in 2016, the Foundation rebranded as the US-China Strong Foundation to reflect the organization’s growing and evolving mission. 100,000 Strong is now one of US-China Strong’s core initiatives; its mission remains the same – to continue increasing the number of US students studying in China.

The US-China Strong Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeks to strengthen US-China relations by investing in a new generation of leaders who have the knowledge and skills to engage with China.